THE IMAGE PAGE

The 'image page' is where we put a changing variety of New
Haven Railroad artifacts for you to enjoy. Be sure to check
back here often because we plan to refresh these images on a regular basis.

Train Yourself to Relax

August 1st, 2006

During the New Haven's final years a
cartoon character and the slogan "Train Yourself to Relax" were used
to advertise the railroad's passenger service. This character and slogan
appeared in many different venues during the 1965 - 1968 timeframe. Here are a
few examples from the collection of Marc Frattasio.

Here's an example of the "Train Yourself
to Relax" advertisement from the back of the New Haven's Form 200
passenger timetable effective October 30, 1966. The point of this
advertisement is, obviously, that unlike driving you could rest while
riding on the New Haven's trains.

Here's another example of the
"Train Yourself to Relax" advertisement, this time with the
cartoon character sitting up and reading the newspaper. This was
probably the favored preoccupation of the New Haven's inbound commuters.
However, outbound commuters (at least those working in New York City)
often played cards or drank in the bar cars during the ride home. This
advertisement was printed on the back of the New Haven's Form 200
passenger timetable revised to May 12, 1968.

Not only did the "Train Yourself to
Relax" slogan and cartoon character appear in timetables, they also
decorated some timetable dispensers as well. This table-top cardstock
timetable rack was distributed by the New Haven Railroad Passenger Traffic
Department to stations, travel agencies, hotels, and other establishments
in the Boston area during the late 1960s.

The "Train Yourself to
Relax" slogan and cartoon character also appeared on the side of
vinyl plastic travel bags sold by the railroad during the late 1960s.
Allegedly these travel bags originated with a fan trip operated for the
benefit of the Branford Trolley Museum. However, they were also sold by
the New Haven Railroad to the general public through advertisements
placed in dining car and grill car menus.

The opposite side of the vinyl travel bag
pictured above was decorated with the New Haven Railroad's "NH"
logo.